CAPITOL VIEW: BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN

I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the issues and legislation that I have introduced this session and share some information on upcoming legislation and activities.

INCOME EQUITY ACT:

The Wisconsin Income Equity Act (WIEA) was introduced earlier in the year. The WIEA would limit the corporate tax deduction for executive compensation from $1,000,000 under current law to a deduction of 25 times the company's lowest paid full-time employee's wage. For example, if the lowest paid employee at a company is paid $15,000 per year, the corporate deduction could be $375,000 for executive pay rather than the current million-dollar deduction. Currently we all subsidize this corporate tax break.

Our goal is to raise the pay of the lowest paid workers by sending a strong message to a company. If you want to receive large tax deductions for executive pay, then pay your workers well. The people on the factory floor are as important to the company as those who work in the corporate suite.

This bill is currently a part of the Senate Democratic version of the state budget and I am hopeful that it will be signed into law when the budget is passed. It will bring the State of Wisconsin an additional $19.6 million over the biennium that can be used to pay for our schools, recycling programs, etc.

RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAS:

I introduced a resolution to urge congress to close the School of Americas. This institution is one of the bigger wastes of taxpayer dollars at the federal level. It is responsible for the training of foreign military officers associated with high profile massacres, killings, kidnappings and tortures in Central and South America.

I have seen firsthand the effects of the bloodshed caused by those trained by the School of Americas in both El Salvador and Colombia on Sister City visits. The cost in human and financial terms is significant. Many religious and human rights organizations support its closure.

The Committee on Veteran's Affairs held a hearing on this issue in mid-September. Over 30 people spoke and or registered in favor of the resolution. No one opposed it. I have sent a request to the Chair of the Committee asking for a vote on the resolution. I hope the resolution will be voted on and move to the Assembly floor soon.

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATION:

I soon will be introducing Domestic Partnership legislation. This bill creates a domestic partnership registry in each county of the state. Once a couple meets the requirements and registers with their County they will receive the similar benefits, rights and responsibilities that are granted to married couples under Wisconsin State Statute 765.

Realistically I understand that this legislation will most likely not get a vote during this session. However, I believe it is time that we begin to introduce positive legislation dealing with equal rights as opposed to simply fighting the negative legislation being proposed.

OTHER LEGISLATION:

I am also a sponsor of a variety of legislation pending hearings in the Assembly, from raising the minimum wage to providing contraceptive coverage under insurance policies to real campaign finance reform. We will keep you posted on their progress.

NEWSLETTER, SURVEY, TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND A NEW WEB PAGE:

Within the next few weeks you will be receiving a newsletter detailing the State Budget, announcing town hall meetings and containing a survey. Please take the time to complete and return the survey. Your opinion is of great importance to me.

I am also in the process of constructing a new web page. This page will have regular updates on various issues and legislation. You can find the site at www.MarkPocan.com

As always, you can reach me at (phone) 266-8570, (e-mail) mark.pocan@legis.state.wi.us <mailto:mark.pocan@legis.state.wi.us> or you may write to P.O. Box 8953 Madison, WI 53708.

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